JP2022086541A - Medium carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a medium carrier capable of suitably carrying a medium to an imaging unit provided movably.SOLUTION: A medium carrier 100 comprises: an imaging unit 117 that is provided movably in a direction orthogonal to a carrying surface to carry a medium and takes an image of the medium; a roller pair that includes a first roller 115 provided upstream of the imaging unit in a medium carrying direction and movably in a direction orthogonal to the carrying surface and a second roller 116 opposed to the first roller; and a carrying guide 114 that is provided on a rotation shaft of the first roller and moves interactively with a movement of the roller. The carrying guide includes a guide surface 114b that extends at least from a downstream end of a nip portion of the roller pair to an upstream end of the imaging unit in the medium carrying direction and becomes flush with an underside of the imaging unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a medium transport device, and more particularly to a medium transport device that captures images while transporting a medium.

In a medium transport device such as a scanner device that captures images while transporting a medium, it is required to image media of various thicknesses well. Therefore, a medium transfer device has been developed in which an image pickup unit for imaging a medium is arranged so as to be movable according to the thickness of the medium to be conveyed.

An image reading device is disclosed in which a driven roller pair of upstream and downstream rollers is configured to be movable up and down, and the roller shaft is brought into contact with a receiving portion protruding from the image reading unit from below (Patent Document). See 1). In this image reading device, when the sheet material is sandwiched between at least one of the transport nip of the upstream / downstream roller pair, the image reading unit is pushed up by the roller shaft, and the width of the image reading gap is the sheet material. It is kept the same as the thickness of.

An image pickup unit movably arranged in a direction orthogonal to the medium transfer direction, a roller movably arranged in a direction orthogonal to the medium transfer direction, and a transfer guide provided integrally with the image pickup unit. A medium transport device provided is disclosed (see Patent Document 2). This medium transfer device includes a moving member that moves in conjunction with the movement of the roller and engages with an engaging member provided integrally with the image pickup unit to move the image pickup unit.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-328216. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-102696

In a medium transport device in which an image pickup unit is provided so as to be movable, it is desired to appropriately transport the medium to the image pickup unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medium transport device capable of appropriately transporting a medium to a movable imaging unit.

The medium transport device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the transport surface for transporting the medium, and has an image pickup unit that captures an image of the medium and an image pickup unit upstream of the image pickup unit in the medium transport direction. A first roller movably provided in a direction orthogonal to the transport surface, a roller pair including a second roller facing the first roller, and a roller pair provided on the rotation axis of the first roller and of the first roller. It has a transport guide that moves in conjunction with the movement, and the transport guide extends from at least the downstream end of the nip portion of the roller pair to the upstream end of the image pickup unit in the medium transport direction and is the image pickup unit. It has a guide surface that is flush with the lower surface of the.

According to the present invention, the medium transfer device can appropriately transfer the medium to the image pickup unit provided so as to be movable.

It is a perspective view which shows the medium transfer apparatus 100 which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the transport path in the medium transport apparatus 100. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the transport guide 114 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the arrangement of the 1st transfer roller 115 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the positional relationship of the transport guide 114 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the positional relationship of the transport guide 114 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of a transfer guide 114 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of a transfer guide 114 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of a moving member 121 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of a moving member 121 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of a moving member 121 and the like. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of a moving member 121 and the like.

Hereinafter, the medium transfer device according to one aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, it should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a medium transfer device 100 configured as an image scanner. The medium transport device 100 transports a medium that is a document and takes an image. The medium is paper, thick paper, plastic card, passport, booklet, or the like. The medium transfer device 100 may be a facsimile, a copying machine, a multifunction printer (MFP, Multifunction Peripheral) or the like.

The medium transfer device 100 includes a lower housing 101, an upper housing 102, a mounting table 103, a discharging table 104, and the like.

The upper housing 102 is arranged at a position that covers the upper surface of the medium transport device 100 and engages with the lower housing 101. The mounting table 103 is engaged with the lower housing 101 so that the medium to be transported can be mounted. The discharge table 104 is engaged with the lower housing 101 so as to be able to hold the discharged medium. In FIG. 1, the arrow A1 indicates the medium transport direction. In the following, the upstream means the upstream of the medium transport direction A1, and the downstream means the downstream of the medium transport direction A1. Further, the arrow A2 indicates a width direction orthogonal to the medium transport direction A1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a transfer path inside the medium transfer device 100.

The transport paths inside the medium transport device 100 include a feed roller 111, a brake roller 112, a flap guide 113, a transport guide 114, a first transport roller 115, a second transport roller 116, a first image pickup unit 117, and a second image pickup unit 118. , A first discharge roller 119, a second discharge roller 120, and the like. The number of each roller is not limited to one, and the number of each roller may be plural.

The upper surface of the lower housing 101 forms the lower guide 105a of the medium transport path, and the lower surface of the upper housing 102 forms the upper guide 105b of the medium transport path. The lower guide 105a or the upper guide 105b is an example of a transport surface for transporting a medium.

The feeding roller 111 is provided in the lower housing 101, and feeds the media mounted on the mounting table 103 in order from the lower side. The brake roller 112 is provided on the upper housing 102 and is arranged so as to face the feeding roller 111.

The flap guide 113 is an example of a third transport guide, and is between the feed roller 111 and the brake roller 112 and the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116 in the medium transport direction A1, particularly upstream of the transport guide 114. It is provided on the side. The flap guide 113 guides the tip of the medium fed by the feeding roller 111 and the brake roller 112 to the nip positions of the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116.

The transport guide 114 is provided at a position facing the second transport roller 116, that is, on the downstream side of the flap guide 113. The transport guide 114 is fed by the feed roller 111 and the brake roller 112, and guides the tip of the medium guided by the flap guide 113 to the nip positions of the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116. Further, the transfer guide 114 guides the tip of the medium conveyed by the first transfer roller 115 and the second transfer roller 116 between the first image pickup unit 117 and the second image pickup unit 118.

The first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116 are examples of a pair of rollers, which are downstream of the feed roller 111 and the brake roller 112 and upstream of the first image pickup unit 117 and the second image pickup unit 118 in the medium transport direction A1. It is provided on the side. The first transport roller 115 is an example of the first roller, and is provided on the upper housing 102. On the other hand, the second transport roller 116 is an example of the second roller, and is provided on the lower housing 101 so as to face the first transport roller 115.

The first image pickup unit 117 is an example of an image pickup unit, and is provided in the upper housing 102. The first image pickup unit 117 includes an image pickup unit housing 117a and an image pickup unit guide 117b. A first transmission member 117c is provided at the lower part of the image pickup unit housing 117a. The first transmissive member 117c is made of transparent glass, plastic, or the like, and the lower surface 117d of the first transmissive member 117c guides the upper surface of the medium to be conveyed.

The first image pickup unit 117 is made of a 1x optical system type CIS (Contact Image Sensor) having a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image pickup element linearly arranged in the main scanning direction in the image pickup unit housing 117a. It has a line sensor. Further, the first image pickup unit 117 has a lens that forms an image on the image pickup element and an electric signal output from the image pickup element, which is amplified and converted into analog / digital (A / D) in the image pickup unit housing 117a. It has a / D converter. The first image pickup unit 117 generates and outputs an input image in which the back surface of the conveyed medium is imaged according to the control from a processing circuit (not shown).

The image pickup unit guide 117b is an example of the second transport guide, and is provided on the outside of the image pickup unit housing 117a on the upstream side and on the downstream side of the transport guide 114. The image pickup unit guide 117b guides the tip of the medium conveyed by the first transfer roller 115 and the second transfer roller 116 and guided by the transfer guide 114 between the first image pickup unit 117 and the second image pickup unit 118. ..

The second image pickup unit 118 is provided in the lower housing 101 so as to face the first image pickup unit 117. A second transmission member 118a is provided on the upper portion of the second image pickup unit 118. The second transmissive member 118a is made of transparent glass, plastic, or the like, and the upper surface 118b of the second transmissive member 118a guides the lower surface of the medium to be conveyed.

The second image pickup unit 118 has a line sensor by CIS of the same magnification optical system type having CMOS image pickup elements linearly arranged in the main scanning direction. Further, the second image pickup unit 118 includes a lens that forms an image on the image pickup element and an A / D converter that amplifies an electric signal output from the image pickup element and converts it into analog / digital (A / D). The second image pickup unit 118 generates and outputs an input image in which the surface of the conveyed medium is imaged according to the control from the processing circuit.

The second imaging unit 118 may be omitted. Further, instead of the line sensor by the 1x optical system type CIS equipped with the image sensor by CMOS, the line sensor by the 1x optical system type CIS provided by the image pickup element by CCD (Charge Coupled Device) may be used. Further, a reduced optical system type line sensor including a CMOS or CCD image sensor may be used.

The first discharge roller 119 and the second discharge roller 120 are provided on the downstream side of the first image pickup unit 117 and the second image pickup unit 118 in the medium transport direction A1. The first discharge roller 119 is provided on the upper housing 102. On the other hand, the second discharge roller 120 is provided on the lower housing 101 so as to face the first discharge roller 119.

The medium mounted on the mounting table 103 is conveyed between the lower guide 105a and the flap guide 113 toward the medium conveying direction A1 by the feeding roller 111 rotating in the direction of the arrow A11 in FIG. To. The brake roller 112 rotates in the direction of arrow A12 when the medium is conveyed. When a plurality of media are mounted on the mounting table 103 by the action of the feeding roller 111 and the brake roller 112, only the media in contact with the feeding roller 111 among the media mounted on the mounting table 103. Is separated. This limits the transport of media other than the separated media (prevention of double feed).

The medium is fed between the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116 while being guided by the lower guide 105a, the flap guide 113, and the transport guide 114. The medium is a first image pickup unit 117 and a second image pickup unit along the transfer guide 114 and the image pickup unit guide 117b by rotating the first transfer roller 115 and the second transfer roller 116 in the directions of the arrows A13 and the arrow A14, respectively. It is sent between 118. The medium read by the first image pickup unit 117 and the second image pickup unit 118 is discharged onto the discharge table 104 by rotating the first discharge roller 119 and the second discharge roller 120 in the directions of the arrows A15 and A16, respectively. To.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, and the image pickup unit guide 117b. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion between the feed roller 111 and the brake roller 112 and the first discharge roller 119 and the second discharge roller 120 in the medium transport path as viewed from the side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upstream end portion 113a of the flap guide 113 is supported by the upper housing 102 so as to be swingable (rotatable). The other end of the first spring 113b, one end of which is supported by the upper housing 102, is attached to the upper end of the downstream end of the flap guide 113, and the downstream end of the flap guide 113 is a medium by the first spring 113b. It is urged in the direction toward the transport path side (downward). As described above, the flap guide 113 is provided so as to be swingable with the upstream end portion 113a in the medium transport direction A1 as the central axis. As a result, when a medium having no thickness and rigidity such as paper is conveyed, the flap guide 113 does not move from the initial position and regulates the lifting of the tip of the medium. On the other hand, when a medium having thickness and rigidity such as thick paper, a plastic card, a passport or a booklet is conveyed, the flap guide 113 regulates the upper surface of the medium while being pushed up by the conveyed medium.

The transfer guide 114 is provided on the first shaft 115a, which is the rotation axis of the first transfer roller 115, and moves in conjunction with the movement of the first transfer roller 115. The transport guide 114 has a canopy shape and has a first guide surface 114a and a second guide surface 114b.

The first guide surface 114a has a planar inclined surface that inclines upward from the downstream side to the upstream side. On the other hand, the second guide surface 114b is an example of the guide surface and has a horizontal horizontal plane parallel to the lower guide 105a. The downstream end of the first guide surface 114a is connected to the upstream end of the second guide surface 114b.

In the medium transport direction A1, the upstream end of the first guide surface 114a is arranged upstream from the downstream end of the nip portion N of the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116. As a result, when the tip of the conveyed medium is raised, the first guide surface 114a comes into contact with the tip of the conveyed medium, and the medium is satisfactorily directed between the first imaging unit 117 and the second imaging unit 118. I can guide you. Preferably, in the medium transport direction A1, the upstream end of the first guide surface 114a is upstream of the upstream end of the nip portion N of the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116, more preferably. It is arranged on the upstream side of the upstream end of the first transfer roller 115. As a result, when the tip of the conveyed medium is raised, the first guide surface 114a comes into contact with the tip of the conveyed medium, and the medium is directed toward the nip positions of the first conveying roller 115 and the second conveying roller 116. Can be guided to.

In the medium transfer direction A1, the downstream end of the first guide surface 114a, that is, the upstream end of the second guide surface 114b, is the downstream side of the nip portion N of the first transfer roller 115 and the second transfer roller 116. It is located upstream from the end of. In the medium transport direction A1, the downstream end of the first guide surface 114a is upstream from the upstream end of the nip portion N of the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116, or the first. It may be arranged upstream from the upstream end of the transport roller 115. On the other hand, the downstream end of the second guide surface 114b is arranged downstream from the upstream end of the first imaging unit 117, that is, the upstream end of the imaging unit guide 117b. That is, the second guide surface 114b extends from at least the downstream end of the nip portion N of the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116 to the upstream end of the first imaging unit 117 in the medium transport direction A1. do. As a result, when the tips of the medium that have passed through the nip positions of the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116 are raised, the tips of the second guide surface 114b are the first transport roller 115 and the first imaging unit. It is possible to suppress the entry into the gap between 117.

In the vertical direction A3 orthogonal to the transport surface of the medium, the upstream end of the first guide surface 114a is separated from the lower guide 105a by a thickness equal to or greater than the thickness of the medium having the maximum thickness supported by the medium transport device 100. It is placed in the correct position. As a result, the first guide surface 114a can reliably guide the medium having rigidity and thickness toward the space between the first image pickup unit 117 and the second image pickup unit 118 when the medium is conveyed.

On the other hand, in the vertical direction A3, the downstream end of the first guide surface 114a is arranged so as to be located at the same height as the lower surface 117d of the first imaging unit 117. That is, in the vertical direction A3, the second guide surface 114b is arranged so as to be positioned at the same height as the lower surface 117d of the first imaging unit 117, and is arranged so as to be flush with the lower surface 117d of the first imaging unit 117. Will be done. The flushing includes not only a state in which the difference in position in the vertical direction A3 is 0, but also a state in which the difference is equal to or less than a predetermined difference. The predetermined difference is, for example, a tolerance allowed by the medium transfer device 100, for example, 0.2 mm. As a result, when the tip of the medium is raised, the tip of the second guide surface 114b is bent in contact with the step between the second guide surface 114b and the lower surface 117d of the first imaging unit 117, and the medium is jammed. Etc. can be suppressed.

The lower guide 105a is arranged so as to be flush with the upper surface 118b of the second imaging unit 118. That is, the distance between the second guide surface 114b and the lower guide 105a is substantially the same as the distance between the lower surface 117d of the first imaging unit 117 and the upper surface 118b of the second imaging unit 118. As a result, the lower guide 105a can prevent the tip of the medium from coming into contact with the step between the lower guide 105a and the upper surface 118b of the second imaging unit 118 and bending, resulting in jamming of the medium.

The image pickup unit guide 117b is provided on the outside of the image pickup unit housing 117a and comes into contact with the conveyed medium to move the first image pickup unit 117. The image pickup unit guide 117b is formed of a member separate from the first image pickup unit 117, and is provided integrally with the first image pickup unit 117. The image pickup unit guide 117b may be formed of a member integrated with the first image pickup unit 117. The image pickup unit guide 117b has a guide portion 117e. The guide portion 117e is provided so as to project toward the first transport roller 115 side (upstream side). The guide portion 117e has an eaves-like shape, and has a planar inclined surface that inclines upward from the downstream side to the upstream side, and a planar horizontal surface parallel to the lower guide 105a. The downstream end of the slope is connected to the upstream end of the horizontal plane. The horizontal plane is provided so as to be flush with the lower surface 117d of the first transmission member 117c.

The other end of the second spring 117f, one end of which is supported by the upper housing 102, is attached to the upper surface of the image pickup unit guide 117b, and the image pickup unit guide 117b is directed toward the second image pickup unit 118 side by the second spring 117f. Is being urged to. Further, convex portions (not shown) extending in the vertical direction A3 are formed at both ends of the image pickup unit guide 117b in the width direction A2. Each convex portion engages with a groove portion (not shown) formed in the upper housing 102 and extending in the vertical direction A3.

The convex portions provided at both ends of the image pickup unit guide 117b move along the grooves formed in the upper housing 102, so that the image pickup unit guide 117b moves up and down without tilting with respect to the transport surface of the medium. Move in direction A3. The first image pickup unit 117 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction A3 orthogonal to the transport surface of the medium in conjunction with the movement of the image pickup unit guide 117b. On the other hand, the second imaging unit 118 is fixed to the lower housing 101.

Further, the image pickup unit guide 117b is provided with an engaging portion 117g which is on the upstream side of the medium transporting direction A1 and can be engaged with a moving member described later above the guide portion 117e. The engaging portion 117g is an arm, and is formed by a member integrated with the image pickup unit guide 117b. The engaging portion 117g may be formed of a member separate from the image pickup unit guide 117b.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement of the first transfer roller 115 and the second transfer roller 116.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the first transport roller 115, the second transport roller 116, and the like as viewed from the upstream side in the medium transport direction A1. As shown in FIG. 4, the medium transfer device 100 further includes a moving member 121, a joint portion 122, a second shaft 123, and the like.

As described above, the first shaft 115a is the rotation shaft of the first transport roller 115. The first transport roller 115 is provided on the first shaft 115a and rotates about the first shaft 115a by a drive device (not shown). One end 115b of the first shaft 115a is engaged with a groove portion (not shown) extending in the vertical direction A3 formed in the upper housing 102. The first shaft 115a is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction A3 orthogonal to the transport surface of the medium in conjunction with the movement of the first transport roller 115.

The moving member 121 is provided on the first shaft 115a. The other end of the third spring 121a, one end of which is supported by the upper housing 102, is attached to the upper surface of the moving member 121, and the moving member 121, the first shaft 115a, and the first transport roller 115 are provided by the third spring 121a. It is urged in the direction toward the second transport roller 116 side. That is, the third spring 121a presses the first transport roller 115 toward the second transport roller 116.

Further, the moving member 121 is formed with a groove portion (not shown) extending in the vertical direction A3. Each groove is engaged with a plate member (not shown) that is fixed to the upper housing 102 and extends in the vertical direction A3. As each groove moves along the plate member, the moving member 121 moves in the vertical direction A3 without being tilted with respect to the transport surface of the medium. As a result, the first transport roller 115 and the first shaft 115a are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction A3 orthogonal to the transport surface of the medium according to the thickness of the medium to be transported. The moving member 121 is provided so as to move in conjunction with the movement of the first transport roller 115 and the first shaft 115a. On the other hand, the second transport roller 116 is fixed to the lower housing 101.

The joint portion 122 is a universal joint and includes a first receiving member 122a, a second receiving member 122b, and a joint shaft 122c. The first receiving member 122a is provided so as to be fixed to an end portion of the first shaft 115a opposite to the end portion 115b, and is connected to the first shaft 115a. The second receiving member 122b is provided so as to be fixed to one end of the second shaft 123, and is connected to the second shaft 123. The joint shaft 122c connects the first receiving member 122a and the second receiving member 122b. As a result, the joint portion 122 connects the first shaft 115a and the second shaft 123 in a tiltable manner, and transmits the rotational driving force from the second shaft 123 to the first shaft 115a.

The second shaft 123 is a drive shaft rotated by the drive device. One end of the second shaft 123 is connected to the second receiving member 122b, and the other end of the second shaft 123 is connected to the drive device via a drive mechanism (not shown). As a result, the second shaft 123 transmits the rotational driving force from the driving device to the joint portion 122, and the first transport roller 115 is rotated by the driving device.

The second shaft 123 is arranged at a position P2 above the position P1 where the first transfer roller 115 abuts on the second transfer roller 116 in the vertical direction A3. The position P1 is the center position of the first transfer roller 115 when it comes into contact with the second transfer roller 116, and the position P2 is the center position of the second shaft 123. In the state where the medium is not conveyed, the first receiving member 122a is arranged at the position P1 and the second receiving member 122b is arranged at the position P2 in the vertical direction A3. As a result, the joint shaft 122c is arranged so as to rise from the center side in the width direction A2 toward the outside. By arranging the initial position P1 of the first transfer roller 115 below the center position P2 of the second shaft 123, the first transfer roller 115 is positioned above the position P2 by the distance between the positions P1 and the position P2. It becomes possible to move upward to P3. Therefore, the medium transfer device 100 can increase the moving range of the first transfer roller 115.

The arrangement relationship of the first discharge roller 119 and the second discharge roller 120 is substantially the same as the arrangement relationship of the first transfer roller 115 and the second transfer roller 116. That is, the medium transport device 100 has a joint portion, a shaft, and a moving member for moving the first discharge roller 119, and the first discharge roller 119 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction A3 orthogonal to the transport surface. ing. On the other hand, the second discharge roller 120 is fixed to the lower housing 101.

5A and 5B are schematic views for explaining the positional relationship between the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, the first transport roller 115, and the image pickup unit guide 117b. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, the first transport roller 115, and the image pickup unit guide 117b as viewed from below. FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, the first transport roller 115, and the image pickup unit guide 117b as viewed from below.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the flap guide 113 is provided so as to extend over the outer ends of the two first transport rollers 115 in the width direction A2. The number of flap guides 113 is not limited to one, and a plurality of flap guides 113 may be arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction A2.

The transport guide 114 is arranged between the two first transport rollers 115 in the width direction A2. The number of transport guides 114 is not limited to one, and a plurality of transport guides 114 may be arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction A2. In that case, the transport guide 114 may be arranged outside the two first transport rollers 115 in the width direction A2.

The image pickup unit guide 117b is arranged between the two first transport rollers 115 and outside the two first transport rollers 115 in the width direction A2. The number of transport guides 114 is not limited to three, and may be one, two, or four or more.

The flap guide 113, the transfer guide 114, the image pickup unit guide 117b, and the first transfer roller 115 are arranged at positions that do not face each other. In particular, the second guide surface 114b of the transport guide 114 and the guide portion 117e of the image pickup unit guide 117b each have a comb tooth shape. The second guide surface 114b of the transport guide 114 and the guide portion 117e of the image pickup unit guide 117b are provided so as to overlap each other in the medium transport direction A1 and one of them is arranged in the notch portion of the other in the width direction A2. Further, the second guide surface 114b of the transport guide 114 and the horizontal plane of the guide portion 117e of the image pickup unit guide 117b are arranged so as to be flush with each other. Thereby, the image pickup unit guide 117b can surely and satisfactorily guide the medium guided by the transport guide 114 between the first image pickup unit 117 and the second image pickup unit 118.

6A and 6B are schematic views for explaining the operation of the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, and the image pickup unit guide 117b when the medium is transported. 6A and 6B are views of the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, the image pickup unit guide 117b, and the like as viewed from the side.

FIG. 6A shows an example in which a paper P having no thickness and rigidity is conveyed as a medium. The thickness of the paper P is smaller than the distance between the lower ends of the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, and the image pickup unit guide 117b in the vertical direction A3 and the lower guide 105a. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the paper P is conveyed, the flap guide 113, the transfer guide 114, and the image pickup unit guide 117b do not come into contact with the paper P and do not move. However, when the paper P floats during transport, the lifted portion comes into contact with the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114 or the image pickup unit guide 117b, and is pressed by the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114 or the image pickup unit guide 117b. As described above, the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, and the image pickup unit guide 117b regulate the floating of the medium when the medium having no thickness and rigidity is transported. As a result, the medium transfer device 100 can suppress the occurrence of jam in the medium.

FIG. 6B shows an example in which a medium M1 having a thickness and rigidity such as a thick paper, a plastic card, a passport, or a booklet is conveyed as a medium. The thickness of the medium M1 shall be larger than the distance between the lower end of the flap guide 113, the transport guide 114, and the image pickup unit guide 117b in the vertical direction A3 and the lower guide 105a. As shown in FIG. 6B, when the medium M1 is conveyed, the flap guide 113 is pushed up by the medium M1 and moves upward. Further, the first transport roller 115 is also pushed up by the medium M1 and moves upward. As the first transfer roller 115 moves, the first shaft 115a and the transfer guide 114 also move upward, so that the medium M1 does not come into contact with the transfer guide 114. Further, the image pickup unit guide 117b is pushed up by the medium M1 and moves upward, and the first image pickup unit 117 also moves upward with the movement of the image pickup unit guide 117b. As described above, the flap guide 113 and the image pickup unit guide 117b regulate the upper surface of the medium when the medium having the thickness and rigidity is conveyed. As a result, the medium transport device 100 can satisfactorily transport a medium having thickness and rigidity.

7A, 7B, 8A and 8B are schematic views for explaining the operation of the first transport roller 115, the moving member 121 and the image pickup unit guide 117b during medium transport. 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B are views of the first transport roller 115, the moving member 121, the image pickup unit guide 117b and the like as viewed from the side.

As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B, the moving member 121 is provided with an engaged portion 121b that can be engaged with the engaging portion 117g of the image pickup unit guide 117b.

7A, 7B, 8A and 8B show an example in which a medium M2 having a thickness and rigidity such as a thick paper, a plastic card, a passport or a booklet is conveyed as a medium. The thickness of the medium M2 is larger than the distance between the upper end of the inclined surface of the guide portion 117e of the image pickup unit guide 117b in the vertical direction A3 and the lower guide 105a, and is larger than the distance between the rotation center and the lower side of the second transport roller 116. It shall be smaller than the distance to the guide 105a.

FIG. 7A shows a state in which the medium is not conveyed. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the medium is not conveyed, the first transfer roller 115 is in contact with the second transfer roller 116. Further, the image pickup unit guide 117b supports the first image pickup unit 117 so that there is a slight gap between the first image pickup unit 117 and the second image pickup unit 118 so that a thin medium can be conveyed. The gap between the first imaging unit 117 and the second imaging unit 118 is set to be, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

When the medium is not conveyed, the inclined surface of the guide portion 117e has a distance between the upper end of the inclined surface and the lower guide 105a in the vertical direction A3 between the rotation center of the first conveying roller 115 and the lower guide 105a. It is arranged so that it is shorter than the distance between. Further, when the medium is not conveyed, the engaging portion 117g of the image pickup unit guide 117b and the engaged portion 121b of the moving member 121 are arranged apart from each other. In the vertical direction A3, the engaging portion 117g has a distance between the upper end of the inclined surface and the lower guide 105a so that the engaging portion 117g and the engaged portion 121b are separated from each other when the medium is not conveyed. It is arranged so that it is shorter than the distance of. The distance between the engaged portion 117g and the engaged portion 121b when the medium is not conveyed is set to, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

FIG. 7B shows a state in which the medium M2 is transported and the tip of the medium M2 is in contact with the first transport roller 115. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the tip of the medium M2 comes into contact with the first transport roller 115, the first transport roller 115 is moved upward by the medium M2 in the vertical direction A3, that is, in a direction away from the lower guide 105a. Move (push up). The moving member 121 moves in conjunction with the movement of the first transport roller 115, and the engaged portion 121b of the moving member 121 engages with the engaging portion 117g.

FIG. 8A shows a state in which the medium M2 is further conveyed and the tip of the medium M2 is in contact with the inclined surface of the guide portion 117e of the image pickup unit guide 117b. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the medium M2 is further transported after the tip of the medium M2 comes into contact with the first transport roller 115, the first transport roller 115 is further moved upward by the medium M2, and the moving member 121. Moves further upward in conjunction with the movement of the second transport roller 116. When the engaging portion 117g engaged with the engaged portion 121b of the moving member 121 is moved upward by the moving member 121, the image pickup unit guide 117b is moved upward, and the tip of the medium M2 is an inclined surface of the guide portion 117e. Can be contacted with. As a result, the tip of the medium M2 collides with the upstream end of the medium transport direction A1 in the image pickup unit guide 117b, the medium M2 is stopped, and jam is suppressed.

Further, as the image pickup unit guide 117b moves upward, the first image pickup unit 117 also moves upward. In this way, the moving member 121 engages with the image pickup unit guide 117b to move the first image pickup unit 117 upward in the vertical direction A3.

FIG. 8B shows a state in which the medium M2 is further conveyed and the tip of the medium M2 is in contact with the lower end of the inclined surface of the guide portion 117e located at the same height as the lower surface 117d of the first imaging unit 117. As shown in FIG. 8B, when the medium M2 is further conveyed after the tip of the medium M2 comes into contact with the inclined surface of the guide portion 117e, the image pickup unit guide 117b is further moved upward by the medium M2, and accordingly. , The first image pickup unit 117 also moves further upward. As a result, the medium M2 is appropriately conveyed between the first imaging unit 117 and the second imaging unit 118.

In this way, when the medium M2 comes into contact with the inclined surface, the image pickup unit guide 117b moves the first image pickup unit 117 upward in the vertical direction A3. On the other hand, at this time, since the first transport roller 115 has not moved from the position shown in FIG. 8A, the engaging portion 117g is separated from the engaged portion 121b of the moving member 121 again.

As described above, when the medium is not conveyed, the engaging portion 117g of the image pickup unit guide 117b and the engaged portion 121b of the moving member 121 are arranged apart from each other. Therefore, when a medium thinner than the distance between the engaging portion 117g and the engaged portion 121b when the medium is not conveyed is conveyed, the engaged portion 121b does not engage with the engaging portion 117g and is a moving member. 121 does not move the engaging portion 117g and the first imaging unit 117. In this way, the moving member 121 engages with the image pickup unit guide 117b to move the first image pickup unit 117 only when the medium having a predetermined thickness or more is conveyed.

In particular, the medium transfer device 100 raises the first image pickup unit 117 in two stages, one when the medium comes into contact with the first transfer roller 115 and the other when the medium comes into contact with the inclined surface of the image pickup unit guide 117b. As a result, the medium transfer device 100 does not need to increase the inclination of the inclined surface of the image pickup unit guide 117b, so that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of jam in the medium. Further, since the medium transfer device 100 does not need to increase the size of the inclined surface of the image pickup unit guide 117b, it is possible to prevent the size of the entire medium transfer device 100 from increasing.

That is, in the medium transport device 100, when a medium having a predetermined thickness or more is transported, the moving member 121 engages with the engaging portion 117g in conjunction with the movement of the first transport roller 115, and the image pickup unit guide 117b. And the first image pickup unit 117 is moved. As a result, the medium transport device 100 can appropriately move the first image pickup unit 117 when media of various thicknesses are transported, and can satisfactorily image the transported media.

As described in detail above, in the medium transfer device 100, the transfer guide 114 is provided on the rotating shaft of the first transfer roller 115. In the transport guide 114, the second guide surface 114b extends from the downstream end of the nip portion N of the first transport roller 115 and the second transport roller 116 to the upstream end of the first imaging unit 117, and It is provided so as to be flush with the lower surface 117d of the first image pickup unit 117. As a result, the medium transfer device 100 can appropriately transfer the medium to the first image pickup unit 117 provided so as to be movable. Therefore, the medium transport device 100 can appropriately transport media having various thicknesses.

In particular, in the medium transfer device 100, the first transfer roller 115 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction A3, and the transfer guide 114 moves in conjunction with the movement of the first transfer roller 115. As a result, the medium transport device 100 can appropriately transport a medium having a thickness such as a passport, and regulate the floating of the thin paper when transporting the thin paper, thereby suppressing the occurrence of jam. became.

Further, the second guide surface 114b of the transport guide 114 is provided so as to be flush with the lower surface 117d of the first image pickup unit 117. As a result, the medium transport device 100 transports the medium from the upstream region having a large gap in the vertical direction A3 to the region between the first imaging unit 117 and the second imaging unit 118 having a small gap in the media transport path. It has become possible to suppress the occurrence of jam at that time.

The flap guide 113 is not provided so as to be swingable, and may be provided fixedly. Alternatively, the flap guide 113 may be omitted. Further, the image pickup unit guide 117b may be omitted. In that case, in the width direction A2, a recess in which the tip of the transport guide 114 is arranged is provided at a position of the first imaging unit 117 facing the transport guide 114. As a result, the transport guide 114 is provided so as to extend to the upstream end of the first image pickup unit in the medium transport direction A1.

100 Media transfer device, 113 flap guide, 114 transfer guide, 114b second guide surface, 115 first transfer roller, 116 second transfer roller, 117 first image pickup unit, 117b image pickup unit guide, 121 moving member

Claims (4)

An image pickup unit that is movably provided in a direction orthogonal to the transport surface that transports the medium and that captures the image of the medium.
A first roller provided so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the transport surface on the upstream side of the image pickup unit in the medium transport direction, and a roller pair including a second roller facing the first roller.
It has a transport guide provided on the rotation shaft of the first roller and moving in conjunction with the movement of the first roller.
The transport guide has a guide surface that extends from at least the downstream end of the nip portion of the roller pair to the upstream end of the image pickup unit in the medium transport direction and is flush with the lower surface of the image pickup unit. ,
A medium transfer device characterized by this. The medium transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup unit includes a second transfer guide that abuts on a medium to move the image pickup unit. Further having a moving member for moving in conjunction with the movement of the first roller and engaging with the second transport guide to move the image pickup unit.
When the medium is not transported, the second transport guide and the moving member are arranged apart from each other, and the moving member is transported by the second transport member only when the medium having a predetermined thickness or more is transported. The medium transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the image pickup unit is moved by engaging with a guide. The third transport guide is further provided on the upstream side of the transport guide in the medium transport direction so as to be swingable with the upstream end in the medium transport direction as the central axis, according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The medium transfer device according to the description.

Images